My Approach
My Approach
There is no license required to call yourself a therapeutic placement consultant — no governing body, no minimum standard, no professional obligation of any kind. Anyone can build a website and start making referrals. That is worth knowing when you are trying to figure out who to trust.
Credentials
A Licensed Clinician — Not Just a Consultant
I am a licensed psychologist in the State of Maryland, which means I operate under the same ethical and legal standards in this work that I do in my clinical practice. I hold a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and Doctorate in Psychology, and I am PsyPACT certified. When complex diagnoses, medication questions, or risk assessments come up in this work, that background is not incidental. It is essential.
As a licensed psychologist and practicing therapist through Cohen Psychological Health Providers, I bring clinical expertise to every placement decision.
Professional Obligation
Being a licensed psychologist means I have a professional obligation to get this right — and real consequences if I don’t. That is not a technicality. It is the foundation of how I approach this work.
“This work often takes place when families are in the middle of a crisis — feeling hopeless, lost, and out of options. I operate well in crisis situations.”
— Dr. Joshua Cohen
Program Knowledge
I Don’t Work From a Brochure
I have personally visited programs across more than 20 states and internationally — not to check a box, but because I believe the only way to really know a program is to be there. I have sat in on group therapy sessions, walked the grounds, and had real conversations with clinical directors, therapists, and the people actually in treatment.
That firsthand knowledge is what allows me to make recommendations I actually stand behind. Not because a program has a good website or a persuasive admissions team — but because I know what happens inside.
“This field changes more than most people realize. Staying genuinely current requires more than an occasional site visit.”
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Interactive Map — Programs Visited
20+ states · International locations
City and state pins · Coming soon
At industry events — staying connected and current
Why Work With Me
What You’re Getting
🤝 Established program relationships
Programs know me and trust my clinical judgment — faster communication, more candid conversations about fit.
🗺️ Firsthand program knowledge
Personal visits to programs in 20+ states and internationally. I know what happens inside — not from a brochure.
🔗 Strong professional network
Active at industry events and in regular contact with colleagues who flag changes at programs before they become public.
📋 Access families don’t have
Resources and insights not available to families researching on their own — including clinical intelligence about programs.
🏛️ Recognized credibility
Some programs require a consultant be involved because they know the process is too complex for families to navigate alone.
⚖️ No referral fees — ever
No commissions, no financial relationships with programs. Recommendations are based entirely on clinical judgment.